Secondary Education : Minister Closes Down Illegal Schools

Tuesday January 21, 2025 was an unusual school day at the Vision College of Excellence, situated in the Simbock neighbourhood in Yaounde. Classes for students in the secondary level had to abruptly end at about 10:17 a.m. and their classroom sealed by the Governor of the Centre Region, Naseri Paul Bea, in the presence of the Minister of Secondary Education, Professor Nalova Lyonga and other administrative authorities.  This was during an inspection visit to some private secondary schools in the Mfoundi Division by the Minister of Secondary Education.
Vision College of Excellence does not have the administrative authority to open a secondary school. Talkless of operating a secondary school that comprises General, Technical and Commercial education as indicated by the authorities on ground. The over 260 students, seemingly stranded and shocked stood in front of the gate of the school. The Minister asked them to go home and instructed the school proprietor to ensure that they are enrolled in different schools around to enable that they complete the school year. On the spot, the proprietor of the school was instructed by the Governor to sign an undertaking recognising the fact that she was operating an illegal secondary school which has been closed down by the government. The Minister made another stop at the CBC Pacesetters Group of Baptist Boarding College located at the Etokoss neighbourhood in Yaounde. The school does not even have the authorisation to exist. The Minister and her delegation could barely find their way to the school through the backyard of people’s homes. No teacher, or school authority could be seen around the uncompleted buildings which serve as classrooms for students. The school has no toilet. When asked about the boarding section of the school, the students seen around pointed into one direction saying “That is the dormitory”. After five minutes within the school compound, a lady came, saying she is a teacher and that the other teachers are on...